Page 133 of Roberto

Most of them were in their mid-20s or early 30s. All of them wore black suits with white shirts and black ties.

I immediately realized that they weren’t investors.

They were Xi and Gota’s men.

Gangsters.

My stomach twisted.

I immediately wished I had granted Giorgio’s request and brought him and our other foot soldiers to Hong Kong.

Not because of their guns –

But to balance out my disadvantage in numbers.

One against twelve was intimidating. Even if everything remained civil and aboveboard, the psychological advantage was firmly in the other side’s favor.

When Han and I entered the room, Lau – who was speaking with Gota and Li – saw me.

“Ah, good – the guest of honor is here. Let’s begin. Mr. Rosolini, if you’ll sit there, please.”

Lau gestured to the lone seat on my side of the table.

I pulled back the chair and uneasily sat down.

Lau sat directly opposite me, with Gota to his left and Xi to his right.

The other men in the room – including Han – stood in a row behind the three principal investors, stretching from one end of the conference table to the other.

I felt like a condemned man facing judge, jury, and multiple executioners all at the same time.

“Mr. Rosolini,” Lau said, flashing his grandfatherly smile. “You know Mr. Gota and Mr. Xi.”

Gota, the Yakuza boss, was about 50. He looked like a cadaverous wax museum statue with slightly bulging eyes. Unlike his underlings, he was dressed in a grey three-piece suit.

Xi was triad. About 65, he had a fleshy, dour face. He, too, dressed differently from his underlings in a navy blue suit.

Gota gave me an unpleasant smile – like a crocodile sizing up a monkey he wanted to eat.

Xi just gazed at me with dead, emotionless eyes.

“Gentlemen, thank you for coming.” I looked at Lau and tried to keep an accusatory tone out of my voice. “Did you not invite any other investors?”

I knew at least half a dozen other people had given the Syndicate as much money as I had.

Lau smiled. “You said that you thought Mr. Xi and Mr. Gota would understand your situation better, seeing as you are all in the same ‘line of business.’ So that we might speak freely, I decided it best to limit the meeting to just you and them.”

I didn’t like it – fewer investors meant Xi and Gota had outsized power in how they voted – but I had to admit it was sound logic.

“Good,” I lied. “Gentlemen, I asked Mr. Lau to invite you here because – ”

“He informed us of your request,” Xi interrupted in a monotone voice. His English was impeccable. “You want your money back.”

I tried to hide my irritation. “And did he communicatewhyI need it back?”

“Something about family problems.”

I looked at Lau. “That’s certainly one way of putting it.”

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